As 2025 winds down, Singapore will implement 15 changes starting in 2026. These range from stricter traffic penalties to new transport links and policy adjustments.
Heavier Speeding Penalties
Stricter penalties for speeding offences take effect from 1 January 2026. Demerit points and composition fines will increase.
The changes depend on how much drivers exceed the speed limit. Exceeding the limit by up to 20 km/h will earn you six demerit points, up from four. But if you exceed the limit by 50 to 60 km/h, you’ll receive 24 demerit points instead of the current 18.
Twenty-four demerit points means a license suspension.
$0.10 Deposit for All Pre-Packaged Drinks
The Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) launches on 1 April 2026 after years of preparation.
Consumers will pay a $0.10 deposit for bottled and canned drinks. This sum gets added to the drink price. You get the deposit back when you return empty containers at designated vending machines or supermarket collection points.
Between 1 April 2026 and 30 September 2026, you’ll see some drinks with the BCRS deposit mark and others without. Retailers will still be clearing older stocks that don’t carry the mark.
Only drinks with the BCRS deposit mark have the $0.10 deposit applied. If you return containers without the mark, you won’t get $0.10 back since no deposit was charged.
From 1 October 2026, all regulated beverage products sold in Singapore must carry the BCRS deposit mark.
JB-SG Rapid Transit System Link
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will commence passenger service by December 2026.
The journey between JB and Singapore will take just 5 minutes.
New MRT Stations Along Circle Line, Thomson-East Coast Line, and Downtown Line
Three new Circle Line stations will open in the first half of 2026. Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road stations will close the loop between Harbourfront and Marina Bay stations, completing the Circle Line.
The Thomson-East Coast Line will get Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations. The Downtown Line will add Xilin and Sungei Bedok stations.
Sungei Bedok will connect both the Thomson-East Coast and Downtown lines. These three stations open in the second half of 2026.
No Smartphone Use in Secondary Schools
From January 2026, secondary school students cannot use smartphones and smartwatches during school hours. This includes recess and CCAs.
Students must keep their devices in lockers or school bags during school hours.
Increase in Minimum Qualifying Salary for Renew Employment Pass and S Pass
The minimum qualifying salary to renew Employment Passes rises to $5,600 for all sectors except financial services from 1 January 2026. The current minimum is $5,000. For financial services, the minimum increases to $6,200 from $5,600.
For S Passes, the minimum qualifying salary for renewal increases to $3,300 for all sectors except financial services from 1 September 2026, up from $3,150. Financial services will see an increase to $3,800 from $3,650.
Increase in CPF Ordinary Wage Ceiling
The CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling increases from $7,400 to $8,000 on 1 January 2026.
Increase in Shared Parental Leave
Eligible working parents currently get 6 weeks of shared parental leave from 1 April 2025.
From 1 April 2026, this increases to 10 weeks.
Increase in Retirement and Re-Employment Age
The official retirement age rises from 63 to 64 on 1 July 2026. The re-employment age increases from 68 to 69.
This means older workers who wish to continue working can do so for longer. Employers cannot dismiss workers based on age before they reach the minimum retirement age.
Establishment of the Online Safety Commission
The Online Safety Commission will be established in the first half of 2026 to support victims of online harms.
The agency will help victims identify perpetrators of online harms so they can commence legal proceedings. Victims can also request the agency to issue directions to online platforms to remove harmful content.
Food Handlers No Longer Need to Wear Masks and Spit Guards
Food handlers won’t need to wear masks and spit guards from 1 January 2026. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) previously required masks and spit guards as licensing conditions for food establishments.
SFA states there is low food safety risk from food handlers not wearing masks or spit guards. Food contamination mainly results from inadequate sanitation, poor handling and temperature management, and contact between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
SFA still encourages food handlers to wear masks or spit guards as good food safety practices.
Increase in SingPost Postal Rates
SingPost will increase the rate for regular domestic mail by $0.10 from 1 January 2026. Standard regular mail will cost $0.62, while standard large mail will be $0.90.
Domestic bulk mail services, mainly used by corporate customers, will see increases between $0.11 to $0.32 from 1 January 2026. The exact increment depends on the mail type, size, and condition.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy
A new sustainable aviation fuel levy applies from 1 April 2026 for flights departing from 1 October 2026.
If you book your flight from 1 April 2026 onwards and your flight departs from 1 October 2026 onwards, you’ll pay this levy.
The levy ranges between $1 to $41.60, depending on your destination distance and cabin class. Economy class flights to Bali will attract a $1 levy. Premium cabin flights to the Americas will cost significantly more.
High-Risk & Undesirable Travellers Barred from Boarding Singapore-Bound Flights
From 30 January 2026, high-risk and undesirable travellers will be barred from boarding Singapore-bound flights.
Airlines will receive no-boarding directive (NBD) notices listing travellers identified as undesirable or who don’t meet entry requirements. These travellers cannot board the plane and must turn back.
Increase in CareShield Life Payouts
From 2026, CareShield Life payouts and premiums will increase.
The annual growth rate of CareShield Life payouts will double from 2% to 4%. To sustain higher payouts, premiums will increase by an average of up to $75 annually.
